5 minPolitics
Trump Pauses Russia Sanctions Law Named for Lindsey Graham a Month After Signing It
President Donald Trump signed an executive order putting a sweeping Russia sanctions package on hold, drawing condemnation from congressional Democrats and a Republican senator two days before the law's implementation deadline.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order that suspends a sweeping new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy, telling Congress the pause was in the national interest. The move came just one month after he personally signed the legislation and two days before a deadline set in the law itself for its implementation.
The law, named for the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, had sought to clamp down more quickly on the flow of financial resources fueling Russia's war against Ukraine. It passed with bipartisan support after Graham, a close ally and friend of the president, died unexpectedly in July shortly after returning from Ukraine. Graham had advocated for stricter U.S. sanctions as a way to pressure Moscow to end the war.
The package was meant to starve Russian President Vladimir Putin of the resources needed to continue the war, which began with Russia's invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago. Drafted with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., the bill sought to sanction Russian officials, banks and a shadow fleet of tankers that keeps Russian energy moving. It also directed Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil or natural gas, with an exception for countries that import less than 15% of Russia's natural gas exports and have taken significant steps to reduce those imports.
The decision drew sharp condemnation from congressional Democrats. Blumenthal said in a statement that Trump was turning his back on «the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, and our European allies.» He added: «These waivers have nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin.»
Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., noted on social media shortly after the announcement that he and others had «warned» Trump might make such a move. Beyer, who spoke out against the bill as it was debated, called on Congress to «fix this flawed law to stop Trump from capitulating to Putin and ensure that it truly supports Ukraine.»
The White House did not immediately explain how pausing the sanctions served the national interest. The decision was posted on the White House website late in the evening, and the notification said the report explaining the decision had been submitted to Congress.
The suspension comes as Trump has increasingly lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, blaming him for failing to make a deal with Putin to end the fighting. The administration had remained mostly quiet since the bill passed with large majorities in the House and Senate following Graham's death, with lawmakers urged ahead by Zelenskyy.
Trump's action follows an announced diesel deal with Putin. Under last week's agreement, Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons «immediately thereafter.» The arrangement has been criticized by Republicans and Democrats alike, who say it will help Russia prosecute its war against Ukraine without making a difference to global fuel prices, which are elevated mostly because of Trump's war on Iran.
The sanctions had also become a campaign centerpiece for Sen. Darline Graham, the late senator's sister who was appointed to serve out the remaining months of his term and is now running to replace him more permanently. After Trump signed the bill, she said, «I wish Lindsey were here to celebrate this historic day.» In a debate this week with Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, Graham, who has Trump's endorsement and is expected to campaign with him in South Carolina next week, said she had been «so proud» to help get the measure passed. She acknowledged, however, that it was the president's purview how he implemented it.
«It gives the president tools that he can use if he so chooses, to end the war through economic sanctions,» Graham said during the debate in Columbia. «So that's up to him as to whether or not he wants to use it, or whether he wants to use something else, but I think the purpose of it is to bring down the gas prices and ultimately end the war. And when the war ends, gas prices will fall.»
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